Lower White River

[hoglaw]

I have fished the White River, in some form or another, my entire life. I'm talking about the bull shoals tailwater here. I have fished the "upper" portion to a few miles downstream of redd's landing. I have fished what I always knew to be the White River growing up as far up as Maddox Bay. But everything in between is a total unknown to me.

On my last two trips, we fished the catch and release area just downstream from redd's landing with great success. I have to think that if you go much farther down than that, you start to get in to even more warmwater fish. So here's my question. Is there an area downstream from redd's landing that's great for browns (that can tolerate warmer water than the rainbows) and smallmouth or other warmwater species at the same time? Any info anyone can share on the lower stretches of the tailwaters would be much appreciated.

[tjulianc]

I was hoping someone with firsthand knowledge would respond to this, but all I can offer is that I once talked to a guy who went to Batesville and said that he got into some good smallie fishing. Don't know if he was above that dam there or not, I really don't know that much about that section of the White, as there is lots of good smallmouth habitat between NWA and there, and don't have a boat for that kind of river.

I've also been curious about the confluence of the Little Red and White rivers.

You'll sometimes hear or see folks catching good smallies in the Beaver tailwaters, down around Houseman to 62 bridge, on occasion. I figure there has got to be a zone in there that bass can do well in, and feed on those stocker rainbows, esp when the weather warms up.

I've fished some of the oxbows off the lower White, down around Clarendon. darn-good fishing if you catch it right, but its been a long long time since I've been down there. My dad once caught a walleye in the main river down there 20+ years ago.

[gotmuddy]

there are no bass in the white, there are no bass in the white, there are no bass in the white...or sumthin

[Greasy B]

there are no bass in the white, there are no bass in the white, there are no bass in the white...or sumthin

No wonder no one spoke up, the truth is out. My old buddy Donny Wallace would start his 5 day bass trips at Rim Shoals, but now that I think about it Donny never did catch any fish.

[gotmuddy]

exactly

[BFTMASTER]

There is bass in the white, I spotted a bunch of kentuckies or spots near the state park while I was over there a couple of weeks ago. I have caught walleye, crappie, small mouth and kentuckies all around Gastons to the State Park. Targeting them would likely be a boring day though.

[Hogs on the Fly]

Fished the confluence to Redd's yesterday. This can be good streamer water given the right circumstances i.e. high water and overcast skies. We only had on of the two, high water, to work with. Lots of limestone ledges and drop offs. In most cases, we're more productive streamer fishing than nymphing. It's not uncommon to pick up a few smallies along the way.

[marcusearlt]

I have fished above the dam in Batesville on the White and landed lots of bass. I guess it was a few years ago around maybe April and we put in and went up river to a little creek arm and did well with Rogues and Texas rigged worms. It seems I catch the occasional bass, usually largemouth, in every single river I fish, some more than others, but not a single one I remember anywhere near Bull Shoals Dam, but there undoubtedly is a population of bass in there I guarantee. Lower White, the whole Little Red, and and all Taneycomo, see the pic, give up bass on a regular basis. I have fished the the LR as far down as Judsonia but never the confluence of the LR and White. The confluence is in the Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA and it is on my to do list.